Cash-railway



(No Model.) i

G. WILLMT.V VGASH RAILWAY. i 1Y0-273.211. Patented I'eb.27,1883,.,y

N. PErERs. Phmwmwnphnf. wawngmn. ILC

lthe time they are purchased.

UNrTaD STATES GEORGE VILLETT, OF ENGLEWOOD, ILLINOIS.

CASH-RAI LWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 273,211, dated February 27, 1.883.

n Application tiled September 4, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, GEORGE WILLETT, of Englewood, county of (look, and State ofllliuois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cash-Railways for Use in Stores and other Mercantile Houses; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying dra-wings and `the letters and figures marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of myimproved railway. Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section of the two tracks, taken on the line mw of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section of the track and cash-box elevator drawn up to a position from which, the cash-box is discharged from the elevator onto the track. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the return-track, showing the drop. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the forked part of the catch. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the box-elevator. Fig. 8 is a detail portion of the V-shape track. Fig. 9 is a plan View, on an enlarged scale, ofthe receiver for the cash-box when it falls from the drop. Fig. 10 is a detail side elevation of the same. Fig. 11 is 'a side elevation ofthe cash-box. Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line y y of Fig. l1. Fig. 13 shows a modification of the cash-box, showing two flanges and a different construction of track.

My invention relates to improvements and devices for the transmission of cash-boxes containing money, in stores and other mercantile houses, from the point where the salesman stands, or where the money is received, to the cashiers desk, and returning the box from the cashiers desk to the salesman by whom it was sent, thereby rendering it unnecessary for the salesman to go from his station to the cashiers `desk forthe purpose of making payments or getting change when articles are paid for at This device also dispenses with the necessity of employing cash-boys.

My invention consists in a .circular cash box, to which is secured a flange for the purpose of guiding the box on the V-shape track, and also for the purpose of tripping and opening the drop, as herein described, and of devices for elevating said box onto said track in such a manner that the box will be delivered to the track with sufficient impetus to cause the box to move to the cashiers desk.

My invention also consists of particular devices and combinations, whereby the cash-box will automatically drop from the track onto a receiver at any point at which it may be desired to remove said box from the track.

Y lt also consists of arreceiver for said box, whereby the box, after being dropped from the track, will be caught in a basket-shaped receiver and automatically lowered to the counter.

It also consists of various other combinations aud devices used in my invention for the transmission of money from the place at which it was paid to the cashiers desk, and return'- ing the device to the place from which it started, all which improvements will be hereinafter particularly described.

In the drawings, A represents the cash-box,

which is circular, and is constructed prel'er.

ably of metal, and of such diameter and thickness as may be found convenient to the person using it.

B represents a flange, either fastened to or cast in one piece with the cash-box, and forming part of it. This flange is secured to the outside of the circumference of the cash-box at a point midway between the upper and lower surface of the box. It is circular, and is of varying width, in order to strike a device in the track for the purpose of opening the track and causing the box to drop into the basket, as hereinafter explained.

C is the lid in box A. (Shown in Figs. 1l and 12.) a is the opening or receptacle within the box to receive thecash, which openingis circular in form. b is an annular groove near the top ofthe opening a. The lid O is of the same diameter as the opening or cash-receptacle in the box. It is countersunk in the center, as shown in Fig. 12 in the drawings. At some point in the periphery of the lid projects a lu g, c, so constructed as to fit into the annular groove b at any part of it. Directly opposite this lug is a spring-catch, d, one end of which is like the lug c, and lits in like manner in the groove d. The other end of this spring-catch projects into the depression in the lid made by couutersinkiig thc lid. The tension ofthe spring holds the catch in the groove and se- ICO e accetti the box when on the track.

We have shown in Fig. l2 one flange on box A, and that construction in my invention is preferable; but one or more flanges ma-y be used on the cash-box in my invention, as shown in Fig. 13.

The cash-box A is elevated from the point at which it is stationed onto the track by means of a device in which D is the lower platform. Near one end ofl this platform is an upwardprojecting post, g, and to the post g is pivoted another V-shaped platform, E, above the platform D, securedat one end by being pivoted, as aforesaid, to the post g, the other end resting on a block at the other end of the platform D. From the lower edge of E, and atits pivoted end, proiects a lip, l1., and through either end of platform D pass rods F, loosely, so as to allow the platform D to move up and down the rods F. These rods are firmly secured tothe track, and are parallel to each other. On their lower ends are nuts to prevent the platform from slipping off. The cord r is attached to the center of one side of the platiorm D, and it extends over grooved pnlleys i, fastened to the track in the manner shown in Fig. 1. To the other end of the cord is attached a tassel of sufficient weight to keep the cord straight. The cord G is used in elevating the platform containing the box onto the track. When the elevator' containing the cash-box A reaches the track the pressure of the box and the platform E on the rail causes it to open at its free end, and when the platform E pushes up through 'the track the projecting lip li engages with the track and holds the end of the platform a, to which the lip IL is fastened, thereby tilting the platform E to such an extent that the box is thrown off from the platform onto the track.

The platform E is similar in shape to the track. In order to avoid-friction of the rods F and the platform D, which would be caused in pulling up the platform, for the reason that the cord Gr is fastened at one side instead of the center ofthe platform, I have attached friction-rollers c b' on opposite sides ofthe Jlattorm' as shown in Fig. 3.

l 'i t The tracks are V-shaped. Each track consists of two rails of wood, inclined at their lower edges at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and are secured to each other at suitabledistances by iron straps, in the manner shown in Fig. 8 in the drawings. There are two tracks, of which Irepresents the carryingtrack, and K the return-track. These tracks,

as before stated, are each composed of two rails, and are V-shaped, the distance between the lower edges of which is sufficient to allow the flange B to move freely and without friction. These tracks I'Vand K are inclined, the track I being inclined toward the cashiers desk, the track K from the cashiers desk toward the salesman. Each of these tracks has openings. The openings in the track I, l, are shown in Fig. 3, and are for the purpose of allowing the cash-box to be placed on the carrying-track I, as shown in Fig. 3. In the openings in the track I the out I' is of sufficient length to allow the cash-box A to pass readily through it for the purpose of being placed on the track. The free end of the cut-away portion l in the track is cut beveled,l while the other end is pivoted in any well-known manner to the track,and after the cash-box has 'been passed through the opening in the track this cut-away portion l in the track falls back to its position by its own gravity. The openings in the return-track K are at intervals where it is desired to drop the cash-box.

The devices for opening and securing the track K are shown in Fig. 4.

L is part ofthe track which is opened, and is hinged at its'inner end and cut bevel at the other or opening end.

l.: is a tripping-lever, (shown in Fig. 4,) pivoted at m. The long arm of this lever is curved upwardly between the lower sides of the V-shaped track in such a manner as to allow the iiange B to strike it at its inner end. This upward-projecting curve is of different lengths, it being so varied in its length as to permit the particular cash-box which it is desired to drop at that point to strike it. The short arm of lever .7c-projects upward nearlyat right angles from the point where it is pivoted and enters aslot in the inner end of the forked spring-catch l. The forked springcatch l is secured to the lowerv side of the track by a gnard,p, through which it plays.

nu are catches on each of the sections of the track.

o is a spring fastened to the spring-catch Z and guard 2), and which holds the spring-catch Z in the catch n. The pressure of the tlangeB ofthe cash-box on the curve of the long arm of lever 7c causes the short arm of said lever to move inwardly and back, and thereby Aunlatches the spring-catch and causes the track to fall and the cash-box to drop into the receptacle hereinafter described. The drop or switch is returned to its position by means ofthe steel spring-rod i', secured to both sections of the track. This springis made ofsteel, and is rigidly secured to the side of the trackon each section, and is of sufficient length and thickness to cause the drop to return to its position as part of the track when the cash-box falls from the track. The inner end of the spring?l is free, and passes through the guide s, fastened to the side of the track, and over the roller s. On the endof the spring is a button, t, so that when the drop falls andthe spring is moved outwardly and downwardly the button t will-prevent the end of the spring from pass- IOC IIO

casuali t ing beyond the guide s, the play of the spring l being sufficient to allow the boxY to drop from the track into the receiver. a

When the cash-box A is switched or droppe from the return-track it falls into a receiver secured to the track on its under side. The receiver consists of a basket, M, bail N, and lever O, the lever O- being pivoted to the under side of the track at u, all of' which is shown in Fig. l. The basket M has the bail N rigidly attached to the top of it, which hail is pivoted to the lever, and by its construction and attachment to the lever, being pivoted thereto, is always in a straight position.

'w is a stop for the purpose of preventing any oscillating movement oi" the basket when receiving the cash-box.

.fr is a. weight fastened by a set-screw to the other end of the lever 0. When the basket M is empty this weight serves to bring the end ofthe lever to which tite basket is attached up to the under side of the track and retain it there. When the cash-box is dropped from the track it i'alls into the basket M, and its weight causes the basket to descend to the counter, where the cash-box can be removed by the salesman.

The method of' operation of my inventionis as follows: The salesman puts the cash into the caslrbox A, and the box is placed upon the platform E of the elevator, after which the cash-box is brought up onto the track I in the -inanuershown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the

tilting ofthe platform E by the devices hereinbefore described serving to give an impetus to the cash-box and sending it toward the cashiers desk. When the cash-box arrives at the cashier-s desk the cashier takes the box from the track, removes the cash, making the correct change, it' needed, and places it upon t-he return-track K, when the box is returned to the place from which it started, the flange B andthe curve on the long arm of lever lc being so constructed in relation to each other that the flange B will strike the leverk at; the switch or drop where it is desired to drop the cash-box. The lever It is struck with sufficient force to unlatch the drop or switch, whereupon the cash-box falls into the basket, which is automatically lowered to the counter, as hereinbefore described. 4

Fig. 13 of the drawings shows a modification of my invention, wherein the cash-box A has two ilanges, B B', similar in construction and in their otce to the llange B. The flanges B B are parallel to each other, andareloeated near the edges of the cash-box A, and are either securely fastened to or cast with the cash-box. B2 are bearings ofthe cash-box on the tracks I and K, which tracks are composed of two rails, each parallel to each other, and of sufficient distance from each other to allow the flanges B B to move easily and without friction between them.

The operation of the apparatus with the cash-box and flanges, constructed as shown in Fig. 13, is obviously the same, substantially as hereinbefore described.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claitn, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a cash-railway, a circular cash-box provided with one or more circumferential :llanges, in combination with a track adapted to receive the box, and provided with one or more guideways for the flanges, a tilting platform, on which the box is placed and delivered to the track, and ahinged track-section which yields to permit the box to be raised and delivered tothe track, substantially as described.

2. In a cash-railwa ',a circular cash-box provided with one or more circumferential flanges, in combination with a returntrack adapted to `the box, and provided with one or more guideways forthe box-anges, a hinged dropping-section in the return-track at the station where the box is to stop, a l'a-stenin g device for securing the hinged section tothe main track,and mechanisms for releasing the fastening, adapted to" be operated automatically by the flange on the cash-box, substantially as described.

3. In a cash-railway, aseries of circular cashboxes provided with circumferential llangesof varying widths on the several boxes, in combination with a return-track provided with a general guideway for the flanges of the several boxes, a yielding or dropping section at each station,a mechanism for releasing each track-section, adapted and arranged each to be operated automatically by the flange only of the box belonging to each several station, substantially as described.

4. ln a cashrailway, a circular V-shaped cash-box, A, provided with a circumferential ange, B, in combination with the carrying and return tracks I and K, V-shaped to receive the box, and provided with a central guideway for the flange, substantially as described.

5. The carrying-track I, provided with a hinged section, I', in combination with .the movable, platform D underneath the section I', the tilting platform E, mounted on the platform D, and provided with the lip h, arranged to strike the track when the platform is elevated, and the circular cash-box A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The carrying-track I,in combination with the cashbox A, the elevator-platform D, the tilting platform E, mounted thereon, rods F, the cord G, the friction rollers a. b', and the yielding track-section I', substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The return-track K, in combination with the flanged. cash-box A, the drop track section L, and catchfastening, which secures the section to the main track, and the trippinglever 7c, arranged in the path of' the boxflange, whereby the lever is operated to release the track-drop by the flange coming in contact with the lever, substantially as described.

8. The return-track K, in combination with the flanged cash-box A, droptrack section L,

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substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

spring-catch Z, and bell-crank tripping-lever k, I tons t on the outer ends of the springs, snbstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l1. The drop track section L, in combination with the basket M, bail N, lever O, pv- 15 otetl to the track, stop w, and weight fr, subsmntially as and for the purposes set forth.

GEORGE WILLETT.

9. The return-track K, in combination with the drop section L, circular cash-box A, trip mechanism operated by the flange on the cashhox, and the basket M, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. The return-track K, in combination with the drop-section L, hinged at one end to the main track, the spring rods o", the sp1-inggndes s, the rollers s', and the adjustable butlitnesses JNO. C. MAOGREGOR, JEROME W. MILLINGTON. 

